Shoe construction



Feb. 10, 1970 R. M. KENNEDY 3,494,053

' S'HOE CONSTRUCTION Filed Sept. 21. 19s? IN V EN TOR ROSALIE M. KENNEDY United States Patent 3,494,053 SHOE CONSTRUCTION Rosalie M. Kennedy, 2410 Elizabeth St., Saginaw, Mich. 48601 Filed Sept. 21, 1967, Ser. No. 669,582 Int. Cl. A43b 23/24 US. Cl. 36-2.5 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A shoe construction having an upper provided with a foot-accommodating opening around which is secured an elongated anchor strip and a detachable trim strip coextensive in length with the anchor strip and overlying the latter, the confronting surfaces of the strips having interengaging, nonadhesive securing means for detachably securing the trim strip to the anchor strip.

The invention herein disclosed relates primarily but not exclusively to womens shoes and more particularly to a womans shoe construction which includes an anchor strip or bead fixed to the upper adjacent the foot-accommodating opening and adapted detachably to secure any one of a number of decorative trim strips to the shoe.

Fashion requires that a womans shoes, gloves, hat and purse be color coordinated in either matching or harmoniously contrasting colors. In many instances, however, it is not possible to purchase shoes having just the correct matching or contrasting color to complement a dress. Moreover, many women are unable to afford the cost of sufiicient pairs of shoes to complement every dress in their wardrobe. It is fairly common, therefore, for a woman to purchase several pairs of neutral colored shoes, such as tan, black or white, which can be Worn with a number of different colored dresses. Although such an approach to color blending is acceptable, it is preferred that a pair of shoes include a color complementary to the colors of the remaining parts of the womans costume.

It is an object of this invention to provide a shoe construction having self-contained means for permitting the detachable attachment to the shoe of a decorative trim strip which has a color the same as or complementary to the color of other clothing or accessories with which the shoe is to be worn.

Another object of the invention is to provide a shoe construction of the kind referred to and wherein the means for attaching the decorative trim strip may itself be used without the decorative trim strip and without detracting from the appearance of the shoe.

A further object of the invention is to provide a trim strip for a shoe of the kind referred to and in which the strip may be dyed to the desired color or be provided with a covering of material corresponding to the material of a dress or other garment with which the shoe is to be worn.

Another object of the invention is to provide a shoe construction of the charcater described and wherein the trim strip easily and quickly may be applied to and removed from the shoe.

A further object of the invention is to provide a trim strip attaching construction for a shoe wherein the trim strip is secured throughout its length so as to avoid any possibility of inadvertent slipping or loss of the strip from the shoe.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be pointed out specifically or will become apparent from the following description when it is considered in conjunction with the appended claims and the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a womans shoe 3,494,053 Patented Feb. 10, 1970 ice having as an integral part thereof a trim strip-anchoring bead or strip completely surrounding the foot opening of the shoe;

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the shoe illustrated in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a plan view of a typical trim strip adapted to be applied to the shoe;

FIGURE 4 is a top plan view of the shoe illustratirlllg the trim strip disclosed in FIGURE 3 applied to the s oe;

FIGURE 5 is a plan view of another type of trim strip which may be applied to the shoe illustrated in FIGURE 1, the trim strip being broken and turned outwardly at the break to illustrate the inner surface thereof;

FIGURE 6 is a side elevational view of a different kind of shoe and equipped with a trim-anchoring strip according to the invention; and

FIGURE 7 is a plan view of a trim strip adapted for use with the shoe illustrated in FIGURE 6.

A typical shoe with which the invention is adapted for use is designated generally by the reference character 1 and comprises an outer sole 2 terminating at its forward end in a toe portion 3 and at its rearward end in a heel 4. Secured to the outer sole and overlying the toe portion thereof is a vamp 5. The vamp is joined to upstanding sides 6 and 7 which converge rearwardly to form a counter 8. An insole 9 is included within the shoe assembly, as is conventional, and the vamp, sides and counter terminate in a foot-accommodating opening 10. The vamp, sides and counter may be covered with leather or any other suitable natural or synthetic material which presently is utilized in the manufacture of shoes. As thus far described, the shoe 1 is conventional.

A shoe constructed in accordance with the embodiment shown in FIGURES 1-4 comprises an anchor bead or strip 11 which preferably comprises an endless band 12 of fabric, leather, or the like, and which is cemented, stitched or otherwise fixed to the vamp 5, the sides 6 and 7, and the counter 8 so as to surround the opening 10. Preferably, the upper edge of the anchor strip 11 terminates approximately 4 inch short of the edge of the opening 10. Carried by the band 12 is a securing means 13 which preferably is nonadhesive and which is coextensive in length with the band. An ideal substance for the securing means 13 is a plurality of closely spaced, flexible bristles of nylon or other suitable material having free outer ends formed as hooks, the opposite ends of the bristles being fixed to or embedded in the band 12. This substance is well known, is completely dry, nonadhesive and durable.

A typical trim strip adapted for attachment to the shoe 1 is designated generally by the reference character 14 and comprises an endless band 15 of fabric, leather, or the like, and corresponding in length to the length of the band 12. The band 15, however, preferably has a slightly greater width than the width of the band 12.

If desired, the band 14 may be provided with a decorative bow 16 or the like or, alternatively, the strip 14 may consist of nothing but the band 15, as is illustrated in FIGURE 5. In either instance the inner surface of the band 15 will be provided with an attaching means 17 which is identical to the securing means 13 described earlier.

The outer surface of the band 15 may be dyed to a desired color or, if preferred, the outer surface of the band may be covered with material corresponding to that of a dress or the like with which the shoe is to be worn. In either event, the trim strip 14 may be secured to the attaching strip 11 merely by placing the strip 14 in overlying relation to the strip 11 and pressing the strip 14 toward the strip =11 so that the-confronting hooks on the respective securing means 13 and 17 interlock, whereupon the trim strip will be detachably secured to the anchor strip throughout the entire length of the trim strip.

The slightly greater width of the band '15 will enable the latter to conceal completely the anchor strip 11, but the width of the band should not be so great as to have its upper edge coincide with the edge of the opening 10.

Thus, there will be no likelihood that a persons foot or ankle will engage the trim strip and effect its detachment from the anchor strip.

The shoe 18 disclosed in FIGURE 6 has an outer sole 19 terminating at one end in a toe portion 20 and at the other end in a heel 2 1. A vamp 22 has its side edges secured to a rearwardly extending heel strap 23. A footaccommodating opening 24 is provided in the vamp, as is customary.

To the outer surface of the vamp is secured an anchor strip 11a corresponding exactly to the strip 11 except that the strip 11a is not endless. Instead, the strip 11a is U-shaped so as to extend from one side of the vamp to the other adjacent the opening 24. Securing means 13a exactly like the securing means =13 are provided on the outer surface of the strip 11a.

A trim strip 14a is provided for attachment to the anchor strip 11a and corresponds exactly to the trim strip 14 with the exception that the strip 14a is U-shaped, rather than endless. The strip 14a includes a band 15a which corresponds in length to the length of the strip 11a and is provided on its inner surface with securing means exactly like the securing means 17. The outer surface of the band 15a may be dyed or covered with a suitable fabric or other material.

The trim strip 14a is applied to the shoe 18 in the same manner that the trim strip 14 is applied to the shoe 1. If desired, the strip 14a may be provided with bows or other decorative objects.

It will be understood that the anchor strips "11 and 11a need not necessarily be produced separately from the shoe in the form of a band which subsequently is secured to the shoe, for it is possible to incorporate the securing means 13, 13a in the appropriate part of the shoe during the manufacture of that part.

An important characteristic of the invention is that the attaching anchor strips 11, 11a and their associated securing means 13, 13a may be dyed the same color as or a color contrasting to that of the shoe. Thus, the shoe may be worn with or without a complementary trim strip and still present an attractive, finished appearance.

The disclosed embodiments are representative of presently preferred forms of the invention, but are intended to be illustrative rather than definitive thereof. The invention is defined in the claims.

I claim:

1. A shoe construction comprising an assembly of a sole and an upper, said upper having a foot accommodating opening therein; an elongated anchor strip carried by said upper externally thereof and extending from one side of the latter to the other adjacent said opening, said anchor strip terminating short of said opening; a trim strip having a length corresponding substantially to the length of and overlying said anchor strip, said trim strip having a width at least as great as that of said anchor strip; and means detachably securing said trim strip to said anchor strip, said trim strip terminating short of said opening.

2. The construction set forth in claim 1 .wherein said securing means is nonadhesive and is coextensive in length with said trim strip.

3. The construction set forth in claim 1 including a counter joined to said sole and to said upper and forming with the latter a continuous enclosure around said opening, said anchor strip and said trim strip being endless and surrounding said opening.

4. The construction set forth in claim 1 including a heel strap joined at its opposite ends to said upper, and wherein said anchor strip and said trim strip terminate at the juncture of said strap with said upper.

5. The construction set forth in claim 1 including decorative means carried by said trim strip.

6. The construction set forth in claim 1 wherein said securing means comprises cooperative, interlocking hook elements on each of said strips.

7. The construction set forth in claim 6 wherein said hook elements are flexible.

8. A shoe construction comprising an outer sole terminating at one end in a toe and at the other end in a heel; an upper secured to and overlying said sole adjacent said toe and having an opening therein for the accommodation of a persons foot; and a nonadhesive anchor strip secured to said upper adjacent and parallel to the edge of said opening but terminating short of said opening.

9. The construction set forth in claim 8 wherein said anchor means comprises closely spaced bristles having free ends provided with hooks.

10. The construction set forth in claim 9 wherein said bristles are secured to a band and wherein said band is fixed to said upper.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,478,468 12/1923 Binns et al. 361 3,119,191 l/1964 Vitzthum 3645 X 3,230,545 1/1966 Galley 2244 X FOREIGN PATENTS 557,510 12/1953 Canada.

PATRICK D. LAWSON, Primary Examiner U.S. C1. X.R. 2-245 

